Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-10
zen. Paine's Letter Declining to Accept
the Condition. Imposed.

The letters Of General Paine and Mr.. Burgess de-
lining TO accept Mr.. Tankervi!!e Chamberlaynes
conditions for race between the Arrow and the
Nayrower having been received by that gentle
man, are given out for publication Gen Paines
Is as follows:
DEAR SIR: As che prospect Of an international
match between the Arrow aud the Mayfower has
been definitely ended by your decision to attach
10 the contest a condition restricting the use Of
tho Aayfiower's center board. / must nOAT in Mr.
Burgess absence write you the reasons that made IL
impossible for Us 80 accept the restriction The
first reason is that the conditions require Yacht
club TO authorize a challenge as well as TO become
the responsible owner OF the cID IL won and |
doubt whethe- any yacht club that belong 10
would wish 10 assume the defense OF the cup,
either directly or through one OF its
members upon conditions which crippled
Its principal class OF racing yachts. Fur
thernore, from the tenor your letter to the pub
lie october 20, 1885, in which you require six
monthS notice That you may have time 10 make
the Arrow mt TO compete with modern flyer"
and the opinion you express in the same letter
that AFTER some suitable alterations you would
be able to make gallant even II losing fight In
defense or the trophy, was led to suppose that
the ARROW would be mOdernized, and would de-
1end the cup as national champion, and was
SURPRISED TO IND by your letter or March 80 1907,
that You did not intend To fully mOderniZe her, but
proposed instead To tax and restrict the MayfiOwer
mus eliminating the element OF internationia
championship. / was also especially surprised
that the centerbOard should be made the subject
OF restriction, because your whole motive in Offer
Ing the cup seemed To be- 10 attract Ito quote your
wOriS), '.SIIch vessels the Puritan to your
shores" the Puritan at that time being the most
conspicuous centerbOard yacht in this country. A
restriction OF any Kind upon either yacht In such
contest changes its whole character from an inter-
National contest 10 private handicad and by
Ionceuing the superiority which the International
match was Intended TO determine seems to make
the match itself unnecessary.
Faithfully yours. CHAS. j. PAINE.
Mr.. Burgess wrote is follows:
BOSTON, MASS, May 4, 1887.
Dear Sir: i have Just returned 10 town and nnd
your note OF April 10 awaiting me- Gen. Paine
n
yours OF the 18th inst. you deem the argument
1nvulnerable that 1.-The centerboard Is an ad-
vantage or IL Is not an advantage. III il is An
adv dntage It's use should he restricted SO as
10 place the other vessels on even terms. III ii Is
not an advantage, no exception can be taken TO
any interference with it, 1 am sorry cannot
agree with either conclusion for II the centerbOard
made still greater one by restrictions In its
and on the other hand. il II is advantage We
wish tile benefit Of IL, believing that each yacht
should derive all possible advantages from It's
form and rig. III in your letter you
referred TO the CrnterbOdri An advantage,
not for speed, but only with reference To pass
Ing over shoal ground then IL seems To me the
only way To match yachts or different types Is TO
arrange a course with water everywhere deep
enough for both types. may add here that the
course proposed IN the present case would not
have permitted the May1iOwer togo TO willward In
racing FORM The great object of these inter-
national contests Is 10 contest the comparative
speed OF the keel and centerbOard types The lat
Ter type Is built here partly for convenience and
sometimes for safety, and think we may regard
LAe question OF The advantage OF centcrDoaru in
point Of speed rs still TO be settled. Regretting
that there IS 10 be no match, i remain yours,
EDWARD BURGESS.